Silas to leave Cap Metro board after flap over remarks on race

Capital Metro board member Beverly Silas resigned Tuesday amid the controversy over her recently reported remarks that she would oppose hiring an African-American to lead the transit agency “because of where Austin is” with race relations.

She announced her decision at the Travis County Commissioners Court meeting.

“I do not want to harm the agency in its search for a new CEO or make it more difficult for Capital Metro to move forward,” Silas told the court, which had appointed her to the eight-member transit board where she served as vice chair. “I most humbly apologize to the community, to you, the Travis County Commissioners Court, the Capital Metro board, and to the entire Capital Metro organization for my words. They did not reflect what was and is in my heart.”